General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Canon Sue Booys Clergy candidate for General Synod
Nominated by Rev. Sarah Nesbitt and Rev. Sorrel Shamel-Wood
I am an experienced parish priest, ordained in 1995, who has served our Diocese as an
LLM and clergy person - my final post was Team Rector of Dorchester at Dorchester
Abbey. I have held a number of national and Diocesan roles including Chair of the
House of Clergy in Oxford and Chair of the General Synod Business Committee. After
five years’ retirement, I’m seeking re-election to the Synod to continue that service and
to work for a Church of England where Inclusion regardless of age, disability, race,
class, gender, sexuality, neurodiversity is taken for granted.
I am offering my experience, wisdom and passion. Please offer me your priority vote.
If you have any questions you are welcome to contact me – [email protected]
What can you expect from me if you elect me?
I will be there. In 20 years service on Synod I was rarely
absent and attended most debates whether or not they
were my primary interest.
I will be available and listen – with interest and care at
Synod and in our Diocese to anyone who wants to contact
or speak to me.
I will vote – according to wisdom, prayer and conscience
and in the light of all that I’ve heard.
I will share my experience as I’m asked and where it might
be helpful.
What are my main interests and experience?
Training and development for clergy and lay people
For my training as a Lay Reader (LLM) I had to write 12 essays and I am thankful that
training in the Church has moved on! I trained for ministry on the Oxford Ministry Course
and have always been grateful for the experience of diversity that this gave me. During
my Ministry I have been a Training Incumbent, offered annual placements to Theological
Students, assisted with training Curate cohorts and served as a Governor at Ripon
College Cuddesdon. In retirement I remain in contact with those whose vocations I
have nurtured and assist with the MDR process. As Synod prepares to receive the
Review of TEIs in this Quinquennium I am well placed to understand and interrogate
that. I am developing my own skills by studying Spiritual Direction at Sarum College.

Relationships with the world church
I’m responsible for our Diocesan link with
Kimberley and Kuruman in South Africa and
have had a lively involvement with this Link
since 2010. Amongst our activities in recent
years, the highlights for me have been our
regular Summit – in person and online – and a
Youth Exchange in which four young people
from each Diocese visited the partner Diocese!
Environment and Climate change
Understanding more about the challenges in South Africa and our other Link Dioceses
and becoming a grandmother has made me even more passionate about reducing the
impact of climate change. Environment is one of the key foci of our South African Link,
and we have explored Eco Church initiatives with all our Link Dioceses.
Education
I’m an ex-teacher and am currently Trustee and vice chair of the Oxford Diocesan
Schools Trust. This role means that I remain up to date with developments in Education
– and I am privileged to make regular visits to see our schools in action. Until recently I
was a Trustee for Youth Challenge Oxfordshire – a charity that works with teenagers to
help them develop confidence through personal and group challenge.
Why vote for me?
What reason has a retired ‘old hack’ to stand for General Synod?
“Do you really want to?” one of my sponsors asked! Well, yes – I enjoy Synod and I had
always promised myself a couple of years without the responsibility of Business
Committee Chair. COVID put paid to that – but now I’m ready to offer my wisdom and
experience for those five back-bench years.

People often ask: “Where would parishes be without their retired clergy?” My presence
on Synod would offer a voice from that constituency - most of whom would run ten
thousand miles rather than stand for Synod!
I want to be part of a Church of England that is welcoming and inclusive at every level: a
Church that lives to serve our communities and the people who live in them; which
takes seriously its place in the world and its responsibility to care for creation; and is
well equipped for a new generation.
If this is also your vision for the Church, I would relish the opportunity to offer my
wisdom and experience to build this through Synod. Please offer me your priority
vote.

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